Throttle-valve controlling mechanism



May 22, 1928.

F. W. BURGER ET AL THROTTLE VALVE CONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 22, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WNW %M 20.? xtmess 73 r 12a W 0925s,

May 22, 1928.

F. W. BURGER ET AL THROTTLE VALVE CONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 22, 1924 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 llllllllllll T if E NT @FFHCE.

FREDERICK W. BURGER, 9F NILES, AND BERGER STGCKFLETH, OF BERRIEN SPRINGS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGIN'ORS TO CLARK TRUCTRACTOR GOM?A1 TY, 033 BUCHANAN, MICH- man, a ooaronarroiv or MICHIGAN.

THROTTLE-VALVE CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

Application filed January 22, 1924. Serial No. 687,732.

This invention relates to motor vehicles of the type employing an internal combustion engine as the motive power, and while primarily designed for use in connection with that type of vehicle that is known as a shop tractor and is used in and about shops, railway stations and other places for pulling or pushing from place to place trucks employed in transporting articles of various sorts is not necessarily limited to use with that particular type of motor vehicle. The object of the invention is to provide novel, cheap, and simple means extending from the throttle valve of the engine to a point within convenient reach of the operator of the vehicle and adapted normally, or, when not actuated by the operator, to move such valve toward its closed position and hold it against movement in the opposite direction, but which when moved by the operator-as by pressure applied to a foot lever or treadlewill freely permit the throttle valve to be controlled by agovernor in the usual manner. This object we accomplish by the means shown in the drawing and hereinafter particularly described. That which we believe t o be new will be set forth in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 shows in side elevation, with some portions broken away, a well-known type of shop tractor provided with our improvements; Figure 2 is a partial longitudinal vertical sectional view showing the type of governor we prefer to use, and Figure 3 is a cross-section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Referring to the drawings, 5 indicates the frame of the chassis Whichis supported upon a pair of rear wheels and a front dirigible Wheel, that one of the rear wheels that shows in Fig. 1 of the drawing being indicated by 6 and the front wheel being indicated by 7. Upon the frame 5 is a housing which encloses the motor and other operatin parts, and connection is made from suc motor by any suitable means to the forward portion of a sectional-propeller shaft, indicated, generally by 8, whereby said shaft is driven, and, through its connection with the rear axle by means of an ordinary differential mechanism, the tractor is propelled. Inasmuch as the parts thus far briefly referred to form no part of our invena tion, and, indeed, may be of any usual construction, it is not deemed necessary to enter into a more detailed description thereof.

Referring now to the parts to which the invention more particularly relates,-9 indicates generally an internal combustion motor and 10 the manifold through which gas is conducted to the engine. An ordinary throttle valve, indicated in dotted lines at 11, is provided in said manifold, the stem 12 thereof being journaled in the side walls of the'manifold and having secured upon a projecting end-thereof an arm 13, by the turning of which the said valve may be turned to the desired position.

As is common practice, there is provided in connection withthe throttle valve a governor for effecting automatic regulation of such valve, which governor may be of any well-known type. The casing of the governor that we have chosen to illustrate is indicated by 14, and the governor comprises a hollow shaft 15 on the end of which is secured a ear 15 that meshes with another gear 15? fast on a shaft driven by the engine. In such governor a plunger rod 15 is adapted to be moved longitudinally in the bore of the hollow shaft 15, it being forced outward or to the right as seen in Fig. 2, against the action of a spring 15 by increase of'speed so that its end will project beyond the end of such shaft, such outward movement being caused by the centrifugal action i weighted arms 15 pivotally connected with said hollow shaft and bearing against a collar or abutment 15 on said rod-a1l as is well understood.

In connection with the governor, governor controlled throttle-valve actuating devices are provided, comprising a lever 16, which, in the construction shown, ispivotally sup ported at 17 on a bracket 18 or other s itable support, the lower and shorter arm 16 of such pivoted lever lying oppbsite the end of the shaft 15 so that as the plunger rod 15 in said shaft is projected such rod will rock said' lever in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2. Pivotally connected to the upper end portion 16 of the valve.

lever 16 is a link 19 that at its other end is, suitably connected with the arm 13 that is connected with the stem. of the throttle At 20 is indicated a coiled spring that bears against the lower arm 16 of the lever 16 and tends to move it inward, and consequently to move the upper arm 16 of said lever outward, or to the right as seenin the drawings, so that said spring tends to open the throttle valve, and to hold the lever arm .16 in contact with the proximate end of rod 15. When the speed of the engine increases, obviously the consequent projectioIl of said rod overcomes said spring and rocks the lever 16 in a direction to close the valve. An adjusting screw plug 21 is provided for regulating the force which the spring 20 exerts against the lever.

Referring now to the means that extend from the throttle valve to a point within convenient reach of the operator while on the seat of the vehicle, and which normally tend to move the throttle valve toward closing position, but are.subject to control by the operator,' 22 indicates a bell-crank lever pivoted at 23 to a bracket 2d fixedly secured below the platform 25 at the front of the machine. One of the arms of saidbell-crank extends downward, and extending between the down-turnedv arm of said bell-crank and a down turned forward end portion of the bracket 24 is a strong coiled spring 26 that tends to swing said arm forward and upward. At 27 is indicated a verticallymovable pedal suitably mounted in an opening through the platform 25 and hearing at its lower end against the other arm of the bell-crank, which extends forward, as shown in Fig. 1 said pedal being adapted, when pushed down by the operator, to swing the bell-crank on its pivot against the force of the spring 26, as will be readily understood. Extending rearwardly from the downwardly-extending arm of the bellcrank, and pivotally connected therewith, is a link 28 which at its other end is pivotally connected with a crank that is indicated in dotted lines by 29, which link is fast on a rock-shaft 30 that is journaled in the frame of the vehicle, and upon which shaft are mounted other operating parts that have no direct relation with the present invention, and, therefore, are not herein described. At 31 is shown another crank that is secured to said rock-shaft, and projecting rearwardly connected to the said arm 13 and the link' Such connection 32. A supporting bracket 32 is provided throttle valve toward its closing position.

This will pull the upper arm 16 of the lever 16 forward, and move its lower arm .16 rearward against the force of the spring 20, which is sufficiently weaker than the spring 26 to readily permit of this movement. The parts may, of course, be ad justed so that the throttle valve will not be entirely closed but will be left open only sufficiently to admit just enough gas to keep the engine running while the vehicle is .stationary. Under the conditions described obviously the rod 15 will be withdrawn from engagement with the lever arm 16. -When, however, the pedal is pressed down the bell-crank will be rocked against the force of the coiled spring 26, with the effect of'causing the flexible member 33 to assume a slack condition. Such slackening of the flexible member releases the forward pull on the throttle valve arm 13 and therefore permits the spring 20 to rock the lever 16 so as to open the throttle valve, under control of the governor which can then function as usual, and, through the described connections between it and said arm 13, maintain the throttle-valve in position'to keep the engine running at the desired speed under varying load conditions, as usual.

By providing connecting means between the foot pedal ,27and the throttle valve, that comprises as one of its elements a flexible member, such as the chain 33, which is normally held taut to hold the throttle valve closed, "or approximately so, and may be slackened at will by-the operator to permit the governor controlled valve actuating devices to function, we have provided a construction that is very effective to prevent the engine from running at high" speed unnecessarily, and yet does not in the least interfere with proper functioning of the governor when the a power of the engine is being used. llloreover, because of its simplicity it may be cheaply and readily installed.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a motorvehicle, the combination of a motor, a throttle valve therefor, a governor driven by the motor, devices controlled by the governor and adapted to actuate said valve to govern the engine speed, means normally operating to move said valve tonovonev ward its closed position notwithstanding action in opposition thereto by the governor controlled devices, and means, under the control of the operator, operable to render said firstnamed means temporarily inoperative while leaving said valve tree for control by the governor.

2. ln a motor vehicle, the combination of a motor, a throttle valve therefor, a governor driven by the motor, devices controlled by the governor and adapted to actuate said valve to govern the engine speed, means normally operating to move said valve toward its closed position notwithstanding action in opposition thereto by the governor controlled devices, comprising a normally taut f exible connection, and means, under the control of the operator, operable to slaclren said connection, to leave said valve free for control by the governor.

5. In a motor vehicle, the combination of throttle valve therefor, a goverive by the motor, devices control d governor and adapted actuate said to toe engine speed to preinaximuni, means normally operating move said valve toward its closed position notwithstanding action in opposition thereto by the governor controlled devices, conaorismg a ezihle connection connected witn said valve, spring operating to hold connection normally taut, and means, under the control of the operator, operable to slaclren said connection, to leave said valve free for control by the governor,

In a motor vehicle, the combination of a motor, a throttle valve therefor, a governor driven by the motor, devices controll d by the governor and adapted to actuate said valve to limit the engine speed to a pre 1 termined maximum, means normally operating to move said valve toward its closed position notwithstanding action in opposition thereto the governor controlled devices,

olaorisin; flexible connection connected said valve, a lever connected d connection, lever holding ne r a connected 'vi s connection noirna sa y tent, and means & erable said lever to slaolre s connection, to leave saio valve free for control by the governor.

5. ln a n or vehicle, combination whereby actuating said lever said valve may he adjusted, and a spring tending to actuate said lever to open said valve, means normalnr operating to move said valve toward its closed position no withstanding action in opposition thereto by the governor controlled devices, and means under the control of the operator, operable to render said first named means temporarily inoperative to move said valve towards its closed position.

6. In a motor vehicle, the combination of a motor, a throttle valve therefor, a governor driven by the motor, governor controlled valve actuating devices comprising a lever arranged to be actuated by increase, of the engine speed to close said valve, a connection between said lever and said valve whereby by actuating said lever said valve may be adjusted, and a spring tending to actuate said lever to open said valve, means normally operating to move said valve toward its closed position notwithstanding action in opposition thereto by the governor controlled. devices, comprising a normally taut flexible connection operating when taut *0 hold said valve from being opened by he action of said spring, and means, under "he control of the operator, for slackening said flexible connection to leave said valve free for control by the governor. H r

7. a motor vehicle, the combination or ,a motor, a throttle valve therefor, a governor driven by the motor, governor controlled valve actuating devices comnrising a lever "A arranged to be actuated by increase' ot the engine speed to close said valve, a connection between said lever and said valve whereby by actuating said lever said valve may be adjusted, and a spring tending to actuate said lever to open said valve, means normally operating to move said valve toward its closed position notwithstanding action in opposition thereto by the governor controlled devices, comprising a flexible connection, a spring for moving and holding said flexible connection in opposition to said nrst-rnentionedspring, and means, under the control of he operator, operable to slacl-zen said flexible connection, leave valve tree for by the governor,

a motor vehicle, the combination a motor, a throttle valve there or, a governor on by the motor, governo controll valve actuating devices corn;

movable endwise i y variation the eng" speed, a lever associated with sa rod to he actuated thereby by increase gine speed, a connection between said valve whereby by act lever said valve may be adjus sp 'ng tending to actuate said lever to open saic. valve, means normally operating to move said valve toward its closed position notwithstanding action in opposition thereto by the governor controlled devices, comprising a flexible connection serving when taut to hold said valve from opening under the action of said spring, a spring for holding said flexible connection normally taut, and means, under the control of the operator,

, operable to slacken said flexible connection,

, to leave said valve free for control by the governor. 4

'9. In a motor vehicle, the combination of a motor and, a throttle valve therefor, of a first spring 'operatively connected to said valve and tending to move said valve to- Wards its open position, a governor operatively connected to oppose the action of said first spring at predetermined engine speeds, a second spri'ng, connecting means between said second spring and said valve, said second spring normally tending to move said valve towards its closed position and pre:

ponderating over said'first spring in its. action on said valve, said connecting means comprising a lost motion connection through which said second spring transmits its stressto said valve, and an operators control member arranged to overcome the stress of said second spring normally transmitted through said lost motion connection to thereby partially or entirely liberate said valve to move said valve towards its closed position and preponderating over said first spring in its action on said valve, said connecting means comprising a lost motion connection through which said second spring transmits its stress to said valve, and an operators control member arranged to overcome the stress of said second spring to thereby relieve said lost motion connection from the stress of said latter spring in order that said valve can be operated by said first sprin rannnaioir W. BURGER.

BERGER STOOKFLETH. 

